Web: www.fishfotoworldwide.com -- E-Mail: fish@fishfoto.com
25-September-2007 : A Good Reason To Stay With Your Bags Until They Are Cleared By The TSA!
Something I started doing a long time ago, when checking my lights, simply to make sure the TSA repacked them correctly has a new purpose today for me.
This past Friday a USA Today staff photographer was flying home from Little Rock, Arkansas (LIT) to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PHL) when her equipment caused a the TSA to over react, call the bomb squad, and evacuate the airport!
Whenever I place my gear into the care of a TSA screener, or when leaving my bag at the counter with a counter agent, I always ask them to inspect the bag in front of me. I explain the contents are fragile and that the bags contents always cause a hand check. I have only been refused a hand check twice. Both times the TSA ended up hand checking the bag in front of me after the CTX machine's photos of the inside of my bag caused alarm.
Let's be realistic. A TSA screener is looking for certain shapes, items, configurations. They don't know the particular ins-and-outs of certain professional specialty equipment. My rolling case holds two heads, a pack, two batteries, head-cords, power supplies, PC cords, pocket wizards, two Nikon speedlights, vice grips, etc. I understand that they can't see through the batteries, the Pocket Wizards may look like triggers (and they are). I understand that my bag should go through a secondary screening. I like to be ahead of the game and just let them know up front what they are looking at and that I'd like to witness the inspection.
Rather than go on about this subject, I'd rather you all click the following link and read a first hand account of how a USA Today staff photog's lighting bag shut down LIT and caused the terminal to be evacuated!
www.sportsshooter.com/news/1833
The lesson here , even for the most experienced flyer? You guessed, let them know what is i your bag up front and stick around until your baggage tag has a "TSA" sticker on it and us placed on the baggage belt.
Happy Flying!
25 September 2007
21 September 2007
21-September-2007 : Need A Quick Lighting Set Up And Hate To Check Your Bags?
Web: www.fishfotoworldwide.com -- E-Mail: fish@fishfoto.com
21-September-2007 : Need A Quick Lighting Set Up And Hate To Check Your Bags?
I'll admit it, I often over pack my lights. I like to be as prepared as possible for whatever my client may throw at me. I have shown up to a job that should be a simple executive portrait that has turned into shooting three executives and some interior architecture work as well. Ever since that nightmare scenario I have often over packed my lights.
On the other hand, I also have shot a number of editorial and corporate shoots where I know for a fact I am dealing with a maximum of two people. Very often I'll travel for eight hours , have 15 minutes to set up and less than 10 minutes to shoot, followed by a nice jaunt back to the airport and eight hours of travel home. With these jobs, like most jobs, I really don't want to deal with the baggage claim area. I like to get off the plane, get in my rental car and go.
For these jobs I have devised what I call my "Lighting Briefcase." My "Lighting Briefcase" is my North Face Offsite bag (http://Offsite.notlong.com ). Even with a fully loaded photo backpack, or a Pelican 1514, I have never been questioned about the size and weight or my North Face Offsite on a US Domestic or Canadian flight (remember always carry all bags like they weigh 5lbs!!). The bag legitimately is a computer briefcase and with most US and Canadian carriers not defining a size and weight for a computer briefcase you're fine........I have tested this on dozens of flights on at least half-a-dozen US and Canadian carriers.
My North Face Offsite hauls the following, in order of top to bottom, left to right, correlating to the photo below
North Face Offsite ; two Bogen 3373 compact lightstands ; Pocket Wizard transmitter ; two Pocket Wizard receivers ; two PC cords ; Lightware "Z" accessory pouch ; two Nikon SB-28dx speed lights; two Photoflex speedrings (with rubber bands in a "tic-tac-toe" pattern to hold the flashes in place); two Calumet Swivel Adapters; small roll of gaffers tape ; Black/White Gobo ; two Photoflex Q39 softboxes ; Lumiquest mini-snoot ; Lexar USB multi-card reader ; USB cord ; Apple power supply ; 13" Apple MacBook ; Timbuk2 laptop sleeve (under the MacBook).
The Lightware "Z" pouch holds two Nikon SB-28dx speedlights as well as all the Pocketwizards and PC cords.
This quick and easy light set up is very versatile, easy to haul around and fairly inexpensive to have around.
This set up is also my favourite set up not only for flying but when I need to use the subway to get to and from an assignment. The briefcase with a backpack is unassuming, does not call attention to having any camera gear , and the low profile makes it easy to maneuver in crowded in environment.
Happy Flying!
--Click On Images To Enlarge Them--
All The Gear Laid Out & All The Gear In The Bag
The following is a photo shot with the "Lighting Briefcase." It was shot for a corporate client in the parking lot at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).
21-September-2007 : Need A Quick Lighting Set Up And Hate To Check Your Bags?
I'll admit it, I often over pack my lights. I like to be as prepared as possible for whatever my client may throw at me. I have shown up to a job that should be a simple executive portrait that has turned into shooting three executives and some interior architecture work as well. Ever since that nightmare scenario I have often over packed my lights.
On the other hand, I also have shot a number of editorial and corporate shoots where I know for a fact I am dealing with a maximum of two people. Very often I'll travel for eight hours , have 15 minutes to set up and less than 10 minutes to shoot, followed by a nice jaunt back to the airport and eight hours of travel home. With these jobs, like most jobs, I really don't want to deal with the baggage claim area. I like to get off the plane, get in my rental car and go.
For these jobs I have devised what I call my "Lighting Briefcase." My "Lighting Briefcase" is my North Face Offsite bag (http://Offsite.notlong.com ). Even with a fully loaded photo backpack, or a Pelican 1514, I have never been questioned about the size and weight or my North Face Offsite on a US Domestic or Canadian flight (remember always carry all bags like they weigh 5lbs!!). The bag legitimately is a computer briefcase and with most US and Canadian carriers not defining a size and weight for a computer briefcase you're fine........I have tested this on dozens of flights on at least half-a-dozen US and Canadian carriers.
My North Face Offsite hauls the following, in order of top to bottom, left to right, correlating to the photo below
North Face Offsite ; two Bogen 3373 compact lightstands ; Pocket Wizard transmitter ; two Pocket Wizard receivers ; two PC cords ; Lightware "Z" accessory pouch ; two Nikon SB-28dx speed lights; two Photoflex speedrings (with rubber bands in a "tic-tac-toe" pattern to hold the flashes in place); two Calumet Swivel Adapters; small roll of gaffers tape ; Black/White Gobo ; two Photoflex Q39 softboxes ; Lumiquest mini-snoot ; Lexar USB multi-card reader ; USB cord ; Apple power supply ; 13" Apple MacBook ; Timbuk2 laptop sleeve (under the MacBook).
The Lightware "Z" pouch holds two Nikon SB-28dx speedlights as well as all the Pocketwizards and PC cords.
This quick and easy light set up is very versatile, easy to haul around and fairly inexpensive to have around.
This set up is also my favourite set up not only for flying but when I need to use the subway to get to and from an assignment. The briefcase with a backpack is unassuming, does not call attention to having any camera gear , and the low profile makes it easy to maneuver in crowded in environment.
Happy Flying!
--Click On Images To Enlarge Them--
All The Gear Laid Out & All The Gear In The Bag
The following is a photo shot with the "Lighting Briefcase." It was shot for a corporate client in the parking lot at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).
16 September 2007
16-September-2007 : Don't Get Separated From Your Gear In Transit!
Web: www.fishfotoworldwide.com -- E-Mail: fish@fishfoto.com
16-September-2007 : Don't Get Separated From Your Gear In Transit!
With a recent rash of photographers having their equipment stolen I wanted to write about ways to protect equipment from easy theft.
The first and most obvious way is to keep an eye on your gear. I know this is not always possible. We all leave our equipment in hotel rooms; at the airport Left Luggage counter; under a desk on an assignment in the corner of the room at a wedding and next to us while sitting on the bench waiting for a train.
A few options to explore are easy and fairly inexpensive.
A great option to stop outright theft of your bag or the slashing of your bag is a Pac-Safe ( www.pacsafe.com). The Pac-Safe is a chain-metal cover that you can slip over your bags. This cove cannot be cut with a knife and allows you lock your bag to nearly anything. A thief with a bolt-cutter , or one with enough time and equipment can get the contents of the bag, but that is true of any anti-theft device. The best option always is to deter the thief and send them looking for an easier target.
One great thing about the Pac-Safe is that you actually wear it on your bag, while wearing your bag. It looks unusual, but no one can walk up behind you and slash the bag open. In a hotel room you can put your bag inside then lock your bag to the bed frame. It's not so easy for someone to drag the entire bed down the hallway to just get your bag's contents.
Another option for quick situations is a zip-wire, or locking wire, etc, with lock on it (Link To Lock&Cable). I travel with a small zip-wire and a few travel locks. When sitting in an airport or at the train station I lock all the zippers shut then run the wire through as many places as possible and then around leg or frame of a bench. This makes a snatch-and-grab theft almost impossible. Having also slept in airports many times (many many times in many countries) due to late flights, early flights, missed flights, being to cheap to pop for a hotel room for an extra night, etc, I have take the zip wire and run it through my bag and then through my belt loops. While someone can pull really hard and rip my belt loops, there is no way they can get my bag without pulling me and waking me up........which would of course make the theft even harder.
An obvious choice for securing equipment is traveling with Pelican cases (www.pelican.com). The Pelican 1510/1514 (Link To Pelican 1510) is legal for almost all carry on airlines, can take any abuse dished out by traveling on a small regional jet or turbo prop where you must place your carry-on bags in the cargo hold for the flight. In addition to the durability of the Pelican cases, you can place two heavy locks on the case and then lock the case to a heavy immovable object and know your equipment is quite secure. I travel with a Pelican 1514 for many jobs and love mine, not only for safety of my equipment but also the security of my equipment.
For those who don't want to feel shackled to their equipment there are electronic alarm systems. These systems are ideal for your briefcase and being in a lounge or at the airport gate, in a conference room, etc. There are many manufacturers of these alarms, each with their own features. The following are links to two luggage alarm that I know some frequent flyers are using and have found to be reliable and a link to a listing of various luggage alarms.
Link To SureSafe Technology Luggage Alarm
Link To E-ALERT Briefcase Alarm
Link To Various Luggage Alarm Systems
The bottom line is you need to be vigilant when possible, but for the times when watching your equipment just is not am option you can try to be as safe as possible to deter theft of your equipment.
Happy Flying!
16-September-2007 : Don't Get Separated From Your Gear In Transit!
With a recent rash of photographers having their equipment stolen I wanted to write about ways to protect equipment from easy theft.
The first and most obvious way is to keep an eye on your gear. I know this is not always possible. We all leave our equipment in hotel rooms; at the airport Left Luggage counter; under a desk on an assignment in the corner of the room at a wedding and next to us while sitting on the bench waiting for a train.
A few options to explore are easy and fairly inexpensive.
A great option to stop outright theft of your bag or the slashing of your bag is a Pac-Safe ( www.pacsafe.com). The Pac-Safe is a chain-metal cover that you can slip over your bags. This cove cannot be cut with a knife and allows you lock your bag to nearly anything. A thief with a bolt-cutter , or one with enough time and equipment can get the contents of the bag, but that is true of any anti-theft device. The best option always is to deter the thief and send them looking for an easier target.
One great thing about the Pac-Safe is that you actually wear it on your bag, while wearing your bag. It looks unusual, but no one can walk up behind you and slash the bag open. In a hotel room you can put your bag inside then lock your bag to the bed frame. It's not so easy for someone to drag the entire bed down the hallway to just get your bag's contents.
Another option for quick situations is a zip-wire, or locking wire, etc, with lock on it (Link To Lock&Cable). I travel with a small zip-wire and a few travel locks. When sitting in an airport or at the train station I lock all the zippers shut then run the wire through as many places as possible and then around leg or frame of a bench. This makes a snatch-and-grab theft almost impossible. Having also slept in airports many times (many many times in many countries) due to late flights, early flights, missed flights, being to cheap to pop for a hotel room for an extra night, etc, I have take the zip wire and run it through my bag and then through my belt loops. While someone can pull really hard and rip my belt loops, there is no way they can get my bag without pulling me and waking me up........which would of course make the theft even harder.
An obvious choice for securing equipment is traveling with Pelican cases (www.pelican.com). The Pelican 1510/1514 (Link To Pelican 1510) is legal for almost all carry on airlines, can take any abuse dished out by traveling on a small regional jet or turbo prop where you must place your carry-on bags in the cargo hold for the flight. In addition to the durability of the Pelican cases, you can place two heavy locks on the case and then lock the case to a heavy immovable object and know your equipment is quite secure. I travel with a Pelican 1514 for many jobs and love mine, not only for safety of my equipment but also the security of my equipment.
For those who don't want to feel shackled to their equipment there are electronic alarm systems. These systems are ideal for your briefcase and being in a lounge or at the airport gate, in a conference room, etc. There are many manufacturers of these alarms, each with their own features. The following are links to two luggage alarm that I know some frequent flyers are using and have found to be reliable and a link to a listing of various luggage alarms.
Link To SureSafe Technology Luggage Alarm
Link To E-ALERT Briefcase Alarm
Link To Various Luggage Alarm Systems
The bottom line is you need to be vigilant when possible, but for the times when watching your equipment just is not am option you can try to be as safe as possible to deter theft of your equipment.
Happy Flying!
15 September 2007
15-September-2007 : Having An Environmental Impact When Flying
Web: www.fishfotoworldwide.com -- E-Mail: fish@fishfoto.com
15-September-2007 : Having An Environmental Impact When Flying
Let's face it, flying is a great to get around, but it is not the most environmentally friendly method of travel. Sure you could opt to get a blimp or take your chances with a hot-air balloon, but more often than not getting on a plane makes the most sense when you have to get from Osaka to Orlando.
To offset the impacts of flying consider purchasing Carbon Offsets. A carbon offset service plants trees and plants to create a more balanced environment. As I am sure you know trees and plants breathe in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. By planting more trees and plants there is an increased amount of oxygen, thus helping the environment.
Purchasing a tree from a carbon offset company should roughly offset the environmental impact of flying from New York to London or Atlanta to Anchorage.
Think about it helping the environment, it's not as expensive as you think. You can easily act on behalf of the global environment when working in a global market place.
The following are links to two good carbon off set services:
http://treeflights.com
http://www.carbonneutral.com
Happy Flying!
15-September-2007 : Having An Environmental Impact When Flying
Let's face it, flying is a great to get around, but it is not the most environmentally friendly method of travel. Sure you could opt to get a blimp or take your chances with a hot-air balloon, but more often than not getting on a plane makes the most sense when you have to get from Osaka to Orlando.
To offset the impacts of flying consider purchasing Carbon Offsets. A carbon offset service plants trees and plants to create a more balanced environment. As I am sure you know trees and plants breathe in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. By planting more trees and plants there is an increased amount of oxygen, thus helping the environment.
Purchasing a tree from a carbon offset company should roughly offset the environmental impact of flying from New York to London or Atlanta to Anchorage.
Think about it helping the environment, it's not as expensive as you think. You can easily act on behalf of the global environment when working in a global market place.
The following are links to two good carbon off set services:
http://treeflights.com
http://www.carbonneutral.com
Happy Flying!
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